New research has revealed how the industry must step up its efforts in responding to the skills challenge posed by Brexit.

The Construction Industry Training Board's new Green Paper - Research into Migration in the UK Construction and Built Environment Sector – has found that less than a third of employers have taken action to deal with the impact of the UK leaving the European Union.

Key highlights include;

• One in three construction employers are feeling the impact of Brexit, up 9% from last year

• Nearly half expect the recruitment of skilled workers to become more difficult over the next two years. Just 4% expect this to get easier

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• Less than a third has taken action as Brexit approaches, or plan on doing so

• Only 8% of surveyed employers who have started making Brexit contingency plans said they will increase training

• Keeping hold of the workers they currently employ is the most important aim to employers in the run-up to Brexit.

Steve Radley, Policy Director at CITB, said: "With Brexit approaching, construction employers are expecting the recruitment of skilled workers to get harder as they anticipate restrictions on access to migrant workers. However, few employers are making firm plans to address this and instead are focusing on retaining their existing migrant workforce."

Mr Radley added the paper highlights the need for a "twin-track strategy - investing in the domestic workforce while enabling employers to continue to secure the vital talent of migrant workers".

"With an estimated 158,000 construction jobs to be created between now and 2022, it is critical that industry works together to deliver its part of this strategy," he said.

(LM)